Unit 10 Flashcards
What is a virus?
A virus is a particle that can direct the processes of life, but it is not alive. They have acellular particles and no cytoplasm or organelles. Nor do they have metabolic processes, meaning that they are intracellular parasites.
What is the structure of a virus?
There is a capsid that surrounds the genome. The genome can be either RNA or DNA, but not both. There is also an optional envelope which is stolen from the host membrane (except pox).
What is a virion?
An extracellular form of a virus that can also be referred to as a virus particle.
What are the contents of a nucleocapsid?
DNA or RNA, structural proteins/protein shell, enzymes and nucleic acid binding proteins.
What is it called when the nucleocapsid is the outer structure?
“Naked” virus.
What is the class of virus when the nucleocapsid is covered with a plasma membrane?
Enveloped virus. The viral proteins project out of the membrane for attachment (peplomers, spikes, VAPS).
What is the nucleocapsid structure?
Capsomeres, Helical (rod) or icosahedral (geometric sphere). Bacteriophages have additional structures attached to the nucleocapsid “head”.
Where do enveloped viruses get their envelopes?
From the host cell membrane when budding out. The envelopes need moisture and are commonly spread through airborne droplets, secretions, organ transplants and blood transfusions.
How sensitive are enveloped viruses compared to naked capsid viruses?
Enveloped viruses need moisture to be spread and are much more sensitive. However, they may require CMI to clear because the humoral may not “see” them. On the other hand, naked capsid viruses are more resistant to acid, disinfectants, detergents, proteases and drying. And they spread much more easily.
How sensitive are enveloped viruses compared to naked capsid viruses?
Enveloped viruses need moisture to be spread and are much more sensitive. However, they may require CMI to clear because the humoral may not “see” them. On the other hand, naked capsid viruses are more resistant to acid, disinfectants, detergents, proteases and drying. And they spread much more easily.
What are the major steps in viral replication?
Attachment, penetration, synthesis, assembly and release.
Describe viral attachment and compare to bacteriophages.
Viral attachment involves cell surface receptors such as proteins, carbs, glycoproteins, glycolipids and lipids for recognition. For bacteriophages, the tail fibers allow attachment.
Describe viral penetration and compare to bacteriophages.
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What are the major steps in viral replication?
Attachment, penetration, synthesis, assembly and release. (may need to add an uncoating or budding steps)
Describe viral penetration and compare to bacteriophages.
Bacteriophages inject genetic material and stay on the outside. Bacteria have primitive immune systems in which restriction endonucleases tthat chop up foreign DNA to protect agains bacteriophages. Animal viruses, on the other hand, are often taken up by endocytosis and the virus must then uncoat.
Describe viral synthesis and compare to bacteriophages.
For bacteriophages, all steps occur in the cytoplasm due to the fact that prokaryotes don’t have a nucleus. In animal viruses, DNA viruses replicate DNA in the nucleus and use ribosomes in the cytoplasm. RNA viruses with a positive sense RNA use it as a mRNA to make proteins right away. RNA viruses with a negative sense RNA use it to transcribe mRNA in the nucleus and then the proteins are made in the cytoplasm.
Describe viral assembly and compare to bacteriophages.
Depends on the virus type and not the prokaryotic/eukaryotic cell structure. Viruses self assemble in the cytoplasm of the host cell. Some eukaryotic viruses need envelopes from the host cell, so there is not a complete assembly until they bud out.
